Update on clean-up efforts from ice storm

The Town of Southern Pines is actively working on cleanup efforts following Sunday’s winter storm that caused extensive downed trees and power lines. As of 1 p.m. on Monday, nearly 12,000 Duke Energy customers were still without power; over half of those outages were in the Southern Pines area.

The downed power lines have caused extensive street closures across Southern Pines. Town emergency crews have barricaded streets with downed lines and will reopen those streets as soon as repairs are made to the power lines and poles.

Chief Mike Cameron of the Southern Pines Fire Department states, “We strongly encourage our residents to remain at home, if possible. Travel is still dangerous due to downed power lines and branches. If you encounter a closed road, do not attempt to go around the barricade as there will likely be a downed power line or branch. Power lines could be live and dangerous and should be avoided completely.”

The Town’s emergency crews worked throughout the day and evening on Sunday, Jan. 16 during the ice storm. The Town’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated and dispatched calls for assistance. During the 24-hour period surrounding the winter storm, the fire department responded to 108 calls and the police department to 63 calls; the majority of those calls were for trees down and electrical hazards, with some medical emergencies. Public Works crews worked to clear tree debris to keep roads passable for emergency personnel.

With the storm clearing, Town staff spent Monday morning assessing Town facilities to make plans for reopening on Tuesday, Jan. 18. As of early afternoon on Monday, many Town buildings remained without power and with extensive tree damage on the grounds.

The Town shares the following information regarding services and conditions:

The “Kid’s Day Out” camp scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 18 has been canceled due to conditions at the Town’s recreation facilities. Town staff will contact parents/guardians to issue refunds.

Garbage and recycling pickup services were underway on Monday. However, delays were encountered due to closed streets and similar conditions. The Town hopes to continue with normal pickup days as the week progresses but will announce any delays or changes to service.

The Douglass Community Center/Senior Center and Campbell House Recreation Office will delay opening until noon on Tuesday.

The Southern Pines library is expected to resume normal hours on Tuesday, opening at 10 a.m.

Staff from the parks department was actively assessing damage at Town parks to prioritize and begin cleanup efforts. The public is strongly encouraged to avoid using the parks until further notice as there is extensive damage from fallen trees.

The tennis courts at Memorial Park are temporarily closed due to tree damage.

There are many traffic lights without power. Treat these as four-way stops when approaching, by coming to a complete stop and proceeding with caution when it is your turn. Driving through an intersection without stopping during a signal outage is dangerous and against the law.

For those needing shelter due to power outages, Moore County Public Safety is operating a shelter at the Sports Complex in the 100 block of Hillcrest Park Lane, Carthage. County officials have confirmed the shelter will remain open until at least 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, at which time the need for continued operation will be reassessed. Anyone who wishes to stay at the facility must first undergo screening for symptoms of COVID-19, according to a news release from Moore County Public Safety. For information on the shelter, call 910-947-6317.

Identify safe alternate sources of heat. Be sure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are functioning properly if you are using fuel-fired appliances, including kerosene heaters or fireplaces. Only operate portable generators outdoors in an area with plenty of ventilation. Keep the generator dry and turn it off and let it cool down before refueling.

The Town will release further updates and resources, as needed.

 

Courtesy photo/Contributed.